Aaron “Kewenkwe” Camacho of the Thunder Clan. Her Native name means Returning Thunder Woman
and move back to the Upper Midwest, settling in Skunk Hill, just outside Wisconsin Rapids. “They had to learn how to live with others (White Man) and integrate into an entirely new environment,” Camacho said. “It was difficult and they weren’t always accepted.” Camacho’s early years growing up off reservation nearly mirror those of Whipple’s. “Growing up, I kind of avoided the whole Native American topic,” Camacho began. “I tried to stay below the radar all my life. My parents sheltered my sister and me from the racial implications, afraid we would have a difficult future if we were considered Native. I just didn’t realize the impact living like had on me. The only time we were exposed to our heritage is when I was around my Grandma. She would always tell me, ‘Remember, Aaron, you are Native American!’ I now understand what she was telling me.” Camacho married just last year and decided to return to school to further her education and to achieve her goal to work in the field of bioremediation of waterways. She discovered Winona State University and together with her husband moved four hours from family to Fountain City, Wisconsin. I took the plunge!” she said with a laugh.” She sought Tribal funding to help pay for her education, but still had to work full time. “I felt I had found a very good fit. I was so excited!” she stated. That is, until she saw the larger-than-life fresco mural gracing the walls in the main
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Plans for an indigenous garden surrounding the End of the Trail sculpture in the center courtyard.
entrance of Somsen Hall. “I was stunned at the images,” Camacho related. “It shows Native Americans being Americanized through religion, desecration of the land and progress. There are frightened children and there is death. Then you have what is presumed to be Princess Winonah giving a shawl to a Caucasian man. And in the final scene there are no more Native Americans. I realized it depicts Manifest Destiny,” she said. “There was no plaque to explain the art work and that surprised me. I thought, did I make a mistake coming here? Is this what they think and feel? I am all alone – will I be safe on this campus? I called my husband right away.” Camacho made a concerted effort to avoid that particular entryway and also the Indian artwork in the Library. But she couldn’t run from it. She was offered a job in the Library. Camacho made a decision to confront the university about the artwork and began asking questions, which opened up an entirely new dialog on campus about contextualizing the artwork, along with the Native American sculptures, to promote a healthy perspective of Native American people. Turn a negative into a positive. She was invited to sit on a committee to address Native American images on campus, which led to the reframing project and plans for an indigenous garden surrounding the End of the Trail sculpture in the center courtyard. Many felt this sculpture to be depressing and
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that it evoked feelings of guilt. Camacho disagrees. She recalls always having a small version of this very statue and one other similar in structure in her home growing up. “It is a reminder of how far we’ve all come, and that we continue to persevere,” she stated. Camacho has immersed herself in campus life and is actively involved in numerous organizations and was elected Student Senator for the College of Engineering. As Camacho became known on campus for her efforts, Professor Colette Hymann got in touch with Whipple to suggest Camacho for the scholarship award. “I can’t believe my professor cared enough to relay my name,” said Camacho. “I now have a sense of belonging that comes with this scholarship,” Camacho remarked. “Maybe I really am supposed to be here! Knowing there is a Native American Indian scholarship on campus is very empowering. Everything happens for a reason.” Camacho concluded, “Meeting my benefactor at the Scholarship Breakfast was something! She is amazing! There was instant recognition. She understood me.”